tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post2248297713071184902..comments2024-02-18T10:19:46.501-08:00Comments on Matt Mikalatos: Guest post from Ryan Cleveland: How to Hide Mt. Everest: a Diary of a 300 pound Pastor (sort of)Matt Mikalatoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13279070118483678882noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-36893773442214585492012-01-19T19:20:36.871-08:002012-01-19T19:20:36.871-08:00I think it is all in the "delivery" of t...I think it is all in the "delivery" of the message. If a pastor admonishes the flock to have self control yet clearly does not even mention a potential self control issue himself, there is certainly a problem. Also, as I am sure your book will mention at some point, there are real medical issues that can have an impact on weight gain. My hypothyroidism is a factor, and the cause of my weight gain, but does not excuse me from losing weight now that my thyroid is under control.<br /><br />Another thought is if person A has a high metabolism and eats garbage yet person B has a moderate metabolism and eats food that is not great, but not the garbage person A eats, who has the self control problem? When I was in the Navy some of the fastest guys to run their 1.5 miles for the semi-annual fitness test did so with a cigarette in their mouth.<br /><br />My point is to address the assumptions that stem from our cultural norms. We view based on image and ideals while sometimes forgetting to look at the true measure of the person. We should not look at a person who is overweight and assume there is no self control. Or even if they lack self control with their weight, others may have 50 issues of no self-control that are hidden. Our current Christian culture really cares about the outside, and that seems more like an American culture issue and not as much a biblical issue. I would be curious to see what our African-American brothers and sisters would say about this. My hypothesis is that it is not nearly the issue in that context, which leads me to consider cultural influences a significant factor.<br /><br />Having spent the last 11 years working with college students, here is what I have found. The current generation does not like their leaders to be supermen. That goes with another generation. They need to see their leaders sharing appropriate vulnerability and weakness. That is the source of their frustration. Leaders that do not acknowledge their struggles openly are the ones they feel are being hypocritical. Obviously I have not talked to the people you have, and cannot speak to what they told you or not told you. This is again, my personal ministry experience. <br /><br />Every pastor is going to have short comings and areas they have challenges. In addition to my weight, I am a fairly loud person and a verbal processor as well. My issues and struggles are very much out in the open to see. Those brothers ans sisters who are internal will always "seem" to have it together initially. The pitfall is to go with that assumption. That is my thought about weight and reputation.<br /><br />Gary, I really do appreciate your willingness to dialog about this. And like I said, ultimately agree that fitness matters. I am looking forward to reading Every Body Matters (and a host of your other books since I have at least 4 or 5 that are on my bookshelf unread. Life has been busy these last few years.Ryan Clevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-6302313315402836992012-01-19T12:57:54.370-08:002012-01-19T12:57:54.370-08:00Ryan, thanks for a thoughtful post. Your last para...Ryan, thanks for a thoughtful post. Your last paragraph could actually be a summary of my book: "[we] need to lose weight. But it has to be for the right reasons. I want to lose weight for the Lord because I am convinced he wants me to. I want to lose weight for my family because I want to be able to live a long life with them instead of dying of a heart attack in five years. I want to lose weight to gain victory over something that owns me unnecessarily and fully enjoy any blessings God in His grace might send my way. Because the truth is right now I can’t. I miss out on so many things because of my health." <br /><br />I say all the same things, with slightly different wording, in various chapters. As a pastor, I would add that I also want to maintain fitness to not undercut any message God has given me, which is the one point I think you're reacting to. Whether it's fair or not, members of the younger generation have consistently told me that they're no longer open to hearing a message on "self control" in one area from a teacher who doesn't seem to exhibit it in other areas. I don't agree with their sentiment (there are no perfect teachers, so by their logic no one could teach)--but as one who cares deeply about the work of the Gospel, I, with Paul want to "make myself a slave to everyone to win some of them to Christ." I'm just trying to raise the issue. As you get through Every Body Matters, I think you'll find we agree with each other about 95% of the time. And I'd welcome any assistance in helping to share this teaching in a way that is redemptive to pastors rather than discouraging.Gary Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15140168415800191834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-18728954739306471192012-01-19T04:21:35.806-08:002012-01-19T04:21:35.806-08:00Ryan, thank you for this post! Your humor and insi...Ryan, thank you for this post! Your humor and insights opened my eyes to an issue I honestly haven't thought much about. For the record, I would enjoy you as my pastor just the way you are. And you would make an enjoyable exercise buddy as well. <br /><br />Pete KellyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-72847274686313465052012-01-18T16:19:30.698-08:002012-01-18T16:19:30.698-08:00Gary,
If you end up reading this, I would love t...Gary, <br /><br />If you end up reading this, I would love to hear your comments on the subject, well my post really since you dedicated a whole book to the "subject." I have a copy of EBM and and working my way through it.Ryan Clevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-39480687487466317452012-01-18T16:17:24.269-08:002012-01-18T16:17:24.269-08:00Thanks "unknown,"
I appreciate you thou...Thanks "unknown,"<br /><br />I appreciate you thoughts on the subject. Perhaps we should avoid "Fudruckers" or "Famous Dave's BBQ for lunch next time. Or at least go with a Turkey Burger, right?Ryan Clevelandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18628978.post-26673796661806877292012-01-18T12:42:00.227-08:002012-01-18T12:42:00.227-08:00I am a pastor--and proudly a friend of Ryan's-...I am a pastor--and proudly a friend of Ryan's--who used to weigh 310 lbs (I'm 5'10"ish). A few years ago I lost 95 lbs. I'd love to say that's the whole story. I've added about 25 of those lbs back (who's counting??), so I'm not where I used to be on either end. We have our staff meetings in a room that has a full-length mirror (why that mirror is in that room is, like the hypostatic union, a bit of a mystery to me). When I got up from the meeting table yesterday I caught a glimpse of my less-than-svelte body and felt an instant sense of disgust and discouragement--a feeling I have every time I see a photograph/video of myself or walk by one of those mirrored columns in a department store with my wife. <br /><br />I've gained/lost/gained/lost, invested great amounts of energy in tackling my weight and then invested very little energy in it. I have struggled with the same questions Ryan poses about in this article--I know I should lose weight, but I'm not exactly sure why, or what my weight really says about me. <br /><br />I really appreciate Ryan's transparency on this issue. As Christ followers we need to love one another as Christ loves, and his love is not cancelled by the manifestations of our brokenness; some of which are seen and others unseen to our human eyes, but none of which are unseen to his. His love is incarnational, meaning that he doesn't point out deficiencies from afar (criticism is easy--believe me, I've made it into an art form), but he enters into our broken lives and walks with us and promises to go with us all the way to wholeness. May we truly love as he loves.TriMet is Hiringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00059557792874803015noreply@blogger.com